ABB and Sheridan College Unveil Canada’s First YuMi Robot

December 17, 2015

Sheridan College’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT) has become the first facility in Canada to acquire ABB’s YuMi robot. A special event to unveil and showcase YuMi’s capabilities was held last week at Sheridan’s Brampton, ON campus.

Photo: ABB Canada general manager Casey DiBattista and Sheridan College president Jeff Zabudsky (right) pose with YuMi, a small parts assembly robot that has been added to Sheridan’s robotics lab. Photo courtesy of CNW Group/Sheridan College

YuMi is the world’s first truly collaborative robot and is designed for small parts assembly, able to work side by side on the same tasks as humans while ensuring the safety of those around it. YuMi represents a major gain in advanced manufacturing, showcasing how the robot’s abilities can combine with human intelligence and adaptability to create a more effective manufacturing process. YuMi includes flexible hands, parts feeding systems, camera-based part location and state-of-the-art robot control.

“This acquisition expands the capabilities of our state-of-the-art ABB Robotics Centre, and will provide our students with hands-on experience that will greatly enhance the value and contributions they bring to their future employers,” says Dr. Farzad Rayegani, Director of CAMDT and Associate Dean of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology. “It is also an important asset in our ongoing work with subject matter experts on industry projects and applied research.”

The acquisition of YuMi is part of Sheridan’s ongoing educational collaboration with ABB. YuMi will be integrated into Sheridan’s Engineering curriculum as a game-changing new tool to teach students, industry and community SME partners about human-robot Interaction. Working closely with ABB, students will interact with YuMi as part of their research and capstone projects with industry partners.

“Robotic automation is the key to transform Canada’s manufacturing industry, a cornerstone of our economy,” explains Nathalie Pilon, CEO of ABB in Canada. “Technology innovation is in the DNA of ABB and we are proud to partner with Sheridan College to support the development of a new generation of talent entering the workforce, prepared to take on the next level of productivity in advanced manufacturing.”

“The addition of YuMi to our ABB Robotics Centre, together with our existing Product Innovation Centre, is a great example of our communities of expertise at work,” says Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan’s President and CEO. “We are grateful that our industry partnerships are allowing us to bring together the ideas, experience and infrastructure needed to become a true technology hub and resource for the manufacturing sector in Peel and Halton regions.”

ABB employs 5,000 peoples from coast to coast who are experts in their field of technology and help provide energy efficient solutions for utilities, industry, buildings, infrastructure and transportation.

Sheridan’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies is a 40,000 sq. ft. facility housing highly specialized manufacturing and design equipment